Knitting method and machine



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KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed June 13, 1940 '10 Sheets-81199123 I/VVEA/M/F "470/7285 A Geia 4 av w lrra Pm-grg ()ct. 23, 1 945. I J. L.. GETAZ 7 I 2,387,253

I KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed June 13, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jgmes Gc'zai I 0st. 23, 1945i J. L.GETAZ 1 2,387,253

' KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE I Filed June 15, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet B rv/r/mss:

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mew/w? ct. 23, 1945. J. GETAZ KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed June 13, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 iwimsss:

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KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE J. GETAZ 2,387,253

KNITTING METHOD AND MACHINE I m/mwzw? I c amcsl ez cz j if v I Q I 47rd W Y T and machine adapted for the 'such panel wrapping generally ?atented @ch 23;, Edd- 2,387,253 KNE'ETENG METHGIE M lli), MACHJINE James L. 'Getaz, New York, N. ill, assignor to Scott and Williams, incorporated, Laconia, N. ill, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June it, 19%, Serialhlo, 3%,2592

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This invention relates to a knitting method and machine and particularly to a knitting method production of wrapping in a broad rib fabric.

Broad rib fabrics, for example, of the common 6 x 3 rib type, may be produced on circular imitting machines of the double cylinder type such as illustrated, for example, in Spiers Patent 1,210,- 866, Bently Patents 1,713,736 and 2,045,938, and Deans Patent 2,101,494. Reference may also be made to the application of Harold E. Houseman, Serial No. 302,443, new Patent 2,237,143, for the illustration of a recent development of this type of machine from which details of a machine embodying the present improvements may be understood.

For the purpose of providing decoration through the leg and perhaps the instep of a during the formation of broad ribs, needles are located in both the upper and lower cylinders, those in the lower cylinder forming the broad ribs and those in the upper cylinder the narrow intermediate ribs. There is thus formed across the space between the cylinders, which must be quite limited at best, a cage of needles offering dimculties in the provision of means for effecting proper movements of individual needle wrapping, for example, as disclosed in Kent Patent 2,065,469, in which a particular embroidery yarn is caused to wrap only a single needle at any time. The production of panel wrapping, however, in which a single embroidery yarn is knitted into a plurality of wales in the formation of a single course involves substantial dimculties because of the fact that requires a wide swing of the embroidery yarn relative to the needles so that it may be taken by any of a group of selected needles within a particular range. Thedifilculty is experienced particularly in getting the wrap yarn into position, following the passage of needles in the upper cylinder, t be engaged by needles forming a wide rib panel in the lower cylinder with properly with of embroidery yarns. This is not particularly serious in the production .drawal to get it out of the way of the next nee dies in the upper cylinder.

It is the broad object of the present invention to provide a method and means for insuring proper wrapping on as many needles as possible forming a broad rib. It will be understood that the term wrapping herein is used in its usual sense of referring to securing engagement of an embroidery yarn in the formation of a single course by needles which may not be adjacent each other and which, in a strict sense, dornot have the. embroidery yarn wrapped about them, but have it presented to them within their hooks so as to be knit thereby. l

The above broad object of the invention, well as other objects particularly relating to de tails, will become apparent from the following description, read in coniunceticn with the ac companying drawings, in which:

Figure l vertical section knitting machine embodying the improvements, various being omitted from this section :ior purpose clarity;

Figure .3 is an elevation, partly in section, showing particularly the embroidery yarn carry= mg and controlling devices;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the embroidery yarn assembly in a raised position in which threading can be efiected;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section, illustrating the controlling means for efiectlng selection of needles for wrapping;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating con trolling means for the mechanism of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation. illustrat ing further controlling devices for the mechanism of Figure it;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view show ing controlling means for the Wrap fingers;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated attlnl igure 7;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a verge used in the improved machine Figure 10 is a sectional view of the same taken on the plane indicated at lid-dd in Figure 9;

Figure ii is a side elevation of a wrap finger used in the present machine;

Figure 12 is an elevation showing in end view two associated wrap fingers in the machine;

Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the cointrolling devices for certain of the cams of the machine;

Figure is is a fragmentary perspective view ment arranged to engage the embroidery yarns during wrapping;

Figure is an inside development showing the slider controlling cams of the machine;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fashion in which control of sliders takes place in the production of selective wrapping; and

Figures 1'? to 20, inclusive, are perspective views, distorted for clarity of illustration, illustrating the fashion in which the embroidery yarn is handled for the production of selective wrapping on needles of a-wide panel.

The machine embodying the present invention comprises lower and upper bed plates 2 and 8, respectively, joined by supporting posts 6. In the lower bed plate 2 there is mounted for rotation a gear 8 secured to, and held in position by, a bevel gear Hi driven by a bevel gear I2 having selec-.

tive rotary or reciprccatory movements. The devices for imparting motion are illustrated in Fig. 7 of the patent to H. E. Houseman No. 2,180,708, dated November 21, 1939. Gear hit of this patent corresponds to gear 12 of the present machine. The lower cylinder is is secured to the gear 8. During rib knitting this cylinder carries the so-called frame needles which produce the broad ribs extending outward in the finished stocking.

Gear 8 meshes with a pinion l6 carried by a vertical shaft l8, which, at its upper end, supports a pinion 2B driving the upper gear 22 mounted in the bed plate 4 by means of a cover plate 24. Gear 22 supports the upper cylinder 28 and is secured thereto.

Located within the lower end of the upper cylinder is the verge 28. shown particularly in Fig ures 9 and 10. This verge fits the bore of the upper cylinder and is secured to a shaft 30, having a suitable bearing in the frame of the machine see Figures 2 and 3). The verge 28 is caused to rotate with the cylinders it and 26 by reason of the provision of a key 32 carried by the verge and engaging a'slot formed in the inside of the cylinder 26. To secure fine adjustment, this key 32 is located in a slot 33 larger than the key and is held in adjusted position" in said slot by means of screws 35 having the under sides of their heads beveled to engage beveled surfaces at the toner the key. Thus accurate angular adjustment of the verge with respect to the cylinder 26 may be effected.

The verge of a machine of this type is provided with a cylindrical wall fitting the inside of the cylinder. In the present instance, however, the verge is cut away as indicated at 34, in the loca.-- tions at which the embroidery yarn fingers are located, and the cylinder 26 is either cut away at such points or shortened throughout its circum-' ference to permit the wrap yarn fingers to pass outwardly, as indicated, for example, at 31 in Figures 1 and 10. The shortening of the entire cylinder is preferable so that wrapping may take place anywhere rather than only'at locations corresponding to the cutaway points.

The verge 28 carries a pin 36 which enters an opening in a wrap finger guide member 38 secured to a sleeve to surrounding the verge shaft 30 and splined thereto as indicated at B2. The guide member 384's slotted as indicated at d for the guidance of the wrap lingers t8 and is provided with yarn guides 46 leading the yarns to the eyes 49 of the wrap fingers. Also secured to the sleeve 40 is a wrap finger supporting member 50, which is slotted at 52 to receive the upper ends of the wrap fingers. 1 A circumferent asergecs its associated parts in raised position for threadgroove 54 in the member 50 receives a spring band 56-which, by extending across the slots 52 provides a series of fulcrum points for the wrap fingers 48. These wrap fingers are provided with sloping slots 58 to embrace the band 56 as illustrated in Figure 1. The wrap fingers are held in position in the carrier 50 by means of a spring band .68 engaging notches 61 therein and are normally urged into position to withdraw their lower ends inwardly by an additional spring band 65 engaging notches 63 therein.

At their upper ends, the wrap fingers are provided with butts 62, which may be selectively broken away to secure proper patterning action as hereafter described. Generally it is desirable to have the wrap fingers arranged in groups of two or more. When that is the case, though their upper ends may be spaced for convenience in mounting in parallel suitably spaced grooves,

their lower ends should be closely adjacent each other, and for this purpose the wrap finger or fingers which trail the first of the group have their lower ends turned as illustrated at 81, so that these lower ends are closely adjacent each other and, from the standpoint of ,operation,

needles, to the position illustrated in Figure 3 in which the lower ends of the wrap fingers are located in position for threading. In such sliding movement, the angular position of the elements is substantially retained by the splined connection 42. However, this connectionis not depended upon to locate the wrap fingers in position during operation, this being effected by engagement ofthe member 38 with the pin 36, so

that very accurate alignment is secured. A latch H may be provided to retain the sleeve 40 and it is found suflicient to provide pairs of bitts 16,

as indicated in Figures 1'? to 2Q, arranged.between the needles of the upper cylinder groups, these bitts being held in slots in the verse 28 by means of a plate 18.

As illustrated most clearly in Figure 17, sliders 8B are located in the lower cylinder and sliders in the upper cylinder, these being arranged to control the movements of needles 82 in conven tional fashion. Sinkers 83, of usual type, are arranged in the lower cylinder to cooperate with the needles in the formation of stitches.

The .lower sliders Bil carry knitting butts 86 and transfer butts 88 and are also provided with butts 90 of saw tooth shape of which the lowermost 92 may be formed as illustrated. The upper sliders 8d carry knitting butts 94 and transfer i i r y memes slots in the usual fashion and contains tricks ltd,

provided with selectively arranged butts adapted to engage and operate the follower portions 598 of a series of levers lit normally urged into engagement with the tricks by individual springs H2. Each of the levers lit is provided with a rounded end Ht engageable in a notch in a cam slide MEI These slides are mounted in a fixed block H8 and are provided with ends 8% engageable selectively with the teeth at of the lower sliders. In the present instance, six of these slides are illustrated selectively engageable with the six butts 90 on the lower sliders.

Secured to'the shaft ms is a ratchet wheel I22 operable by reciprocating movements of a pawl I26 longitudinally adjustable on a carrying rod H8 and urged downwardly and to the right, as viewed in Figure 4, by spring I28. Guard surfaces E30 and I132 are formed on a guard member 534 journalled onthe shaft Hi l andadapted to be moved against the tension of spring 138 bv a link I36. Normally during operation this guard member occupies the position illustrated-in Figure 4, so that the pawl Md may engage the teeth and advance the trick wheel. If it is desired to interrupt the operation, the guard W4 is so moved as to bring its surface itii into engagement w th the pawl throughout its stroke to move the pawl outwardly so that it will not engage the teeth I22. When it is desired to time up the trick wheel. for example, during the formation of the toe of a stocking, the lower guard surface I32 is moved adjacent the end of pawl lid, so that, while the pawl H26 will advance the normal teeth of ratchet 822, it will fail to engage a low tooth Ito of the series, so that, despite continued operation, the trick wheel will be brought to rest with this tooth opposite the position of pawl 82%.

The guard is controlled through the mechanism illustrated in Figure 5. Link I36 carries a collar adapted to be engaged by the pin lit, through which link I36 extends, carried by one arm of a bell crank ltd, the other arm of which is engageable by'an arm its carried by the hub of a lever I38, which is provided with a follower E56 engageable by cams its on the main pattern drum of the machine and also with a follower illi engageable by lugs I172 on a pattern chain H3. By this arrangement, and as described in greater detail hereafter, the trick wheel may be caused to advance or pause at desired times and may be timed up during the completion of the iormation of a stocking. 4

Figure 6 illustrates the devices for efir'ect ng movements of the trick wheel Hi2. Thelink its is connected to a bell crank i tit pivoted at wt and having an arm W2 connected by a link Hil to a lever Mt pivoted at M9 to the frame of the r m chine and movableby cams its and Mtcarried wheel is to be efiected, however, only on alternate courses, only one of these cams is'provided. Desirably there are as many teeth on ratchet I22 as there am tricks, so that each stroke of pawl ifid will efiect the substitution. of one trick for another active position, Thus changes are effected every course or every two courses, depending upon whether there are present on gear 552 one or two cams for operating lever M8.

At its upper end the shaft iil i carries a second trick wheel lid provided with tricks lid in slots therein corresponding in angular position with the slots in trick wheel m. The tricks iii are also provided with properly arranged butts adapted to engage the follower portions lid of a series of levers lift, the ends of which are arranged to engage bell cranks ltd pivoted at it? and urged in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 by individual springs lu l which urge the levers lid into engagement with the tricks. Movements of bell cranks its under the actions of springs its are limited by individual adjustable stops its. Bell cranks ltd are arranged to engage the ends are of operating levers lfiii pivoted at are to the frame and urged in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7 by individual springs hit. The ends are of these levers are arranged to engage selectively the butts $2 of the wrap fingers 68 to cause the lower ends thereof to swing outwardly across 302 the needle circle. A cam 392 is provided to engage the wrap fingers below their pivots at $6 to return them inwardly at the end of a wrap operation (see Figure l).

An upright shaft N98 is provided at its upper end with a. finger its of sumicent vertical extent to be engageable with all of the levee Elli At its lower end this same shaft carries another finger we of suficient vertical extent to engage all of the levers lit. By rocking of shaft 8% in a counterclockwise direction, all of the leversof both sets may be rocked clockwise as viewed in plan to prevent engagement of lever ends 9% with the wrap linger butts and oi slides ifit with the butts 9d of lower sliders. Thus, despite tim ing up movements of the trick wheels, selective actions on the wrap fingers and sliders may b prevented. Movements of the shaft Q98 are effected through a guided wire 2&2 connected to the upper end of a plunger 2M, which extends downwardly to be acted upon by suitable cams on the main cane drum of the machine.-

In order to impart to the embroidery yarns a suficient extent of movement relative to the needies to cause them to be engaged by a plurality oi needles, tl'iere is provided an abutment to effect retarding of the embroidery yarns relative to the needles in the general fashion described in the patent to Taggart 2,025,913, dated December 31, 1935. in the present machine, the abutment for retarding the embroidery yarns takes the form of'a finger 22th, which is provided with a slight undercut indicated at 259 in Figures l7, l9 and 20, to prevent release of the yarn therefrom prior to completion of the wrapping. The abutment finger kill is pivoted at it? to the frame of the machine and is provided with an upright pin tit passing through a slot in an arm 2H5 secured to an upright rod are journalled in t e frame of the machine and capable of vertical movements against the action of spring 2222, which reacts between the machine frame and a collarfil i on rod 2H3. Its downward movements are limited by a collar 22s. To the upper end of the rod its .is secured a bell crank provided with one arm 22c carrying a follower pin 2% engageable by cams fid-corresponding in number tothe panels at which wrapping may take place. The other arm of the bell crank is provided with a vertical face 233 below which is a sloping face 2-50, these faces being adapted to be selectively engaged with a stop screw 23% under the action of spring 232, which tends to rotate the rod E83 clockwise as viewed in plan. The stop screw 23% is carried by a bracket 236, to which there is pivoted a lever 262 bifurcated to extend beneath the collar 224 and connected by means of a wire 2 36 to the upper end of a plunger 2&6 adapted to be acted upon by cams 248 on the main cam drum of the machine.

Figur 14 illustrates the abutment in the position it occupies during wrapping. As will be pointed out hereafter, to secure proper wrapping, slight inward movements are imparted to the abutment linger 2H] momentarily in each wrapping operation. The cams 2313 effect this action by causing the rod 2l8 to move slightly counterclockwise, with the result that the action of arm 216 on pin 2:4 moves the wrap finger slightly inwardly.

During periods when wrapping is not to take place, for example, during heel and toe knitting, it is desirable to move the abutment away from the needles. This is effected by causing the plunger 2% to rise under the action of a cam 2&8, thereby raising, through lever 2 32, 'the rod 238. When this occurs, the sloping surface 2%, rather than the vertical surface 238, is brought to the level of the stop screw 234, and a clockwise movement of the rod occurs under the ac tion of spring 232 to move finger 2H3 away from the needles. At the same time, the cam follower pin 228 is raised above the level of the cams 238 so as not to be engaged thereby.

In Figure 15 there is illustrated the cam layout of the machine. Reference will not be made thereto in detail, in view of the fact that with a few exceptions the cams are entirely conventional, as will be apparent from consideration of the patents and application referred to above. be suficient to point out that the machine may be oi the two-feed variety having lower main feed cams at 25%), upper main feed cams at 254, lower auxiliary feed cams at 252 and upper auxiliary feed cams at 255. During wrapping, knitting takes place at the main feed only.

A lower transfer cam is provided at 258 and an upper transfer cam is provided at 2513. As is usual, the transfer butts of the lower and upper sliders are of different lengths, so that selective transfers of the needles may be accomplished. The knitting butts are, of course, also of different lengths to provide for segregation oi the sole and instep needles.

A cam 282, arranged to act upon the knitting butts of the lower sliders, is arranged to bring the needles engaged by the lower sliders to a level to be wrapped. From this level, the slides 829, controlled by the patterningmechanism heretofore described, lower the sliders which engage needles which are not to be: wrapped to a still lower level. After completion of the wrapping, a cam 26d, engaging knitting butts, then raises all of the needles in the lower cylinder to a common level for passage together through the knitting wave. A-cam 265, located just in advance of the wrapping position, serves toraise all of the upper sliders to a level above the position of the ends of the wrap fingers so as not to interfere therewith.

In order to render clearer the operations in- It will aseaaee;

volved in control of the needles, there is illus-' trated in diagrammatic fashion in Figure 16 the paths taken by the various butts of the lower sliders in the vicinity of the wrapping position. Let

it be assumed, for example, that the narrow ribs are formed on three needles in the upper cylinder and the wide ribs on seven frame needles in the lower cylinder. During the wrapping operation, the lower sliders corresponding to the three narrow rib needles engage no needles and need be provided with no butts 90. The knitting butts of these idle sliders are indicated at A. The knitting butts of the seven sliders which engage needles in the panel under consideration are indicated in groups at B, C and C. The knitting butts of a preceding panel are indicated at D.

The slides are indicated at B20 and are numbered 1 to 6, inclusive. The butts 90 which correspond to these sliders are also numbered 1 to 6, inclusive. Let it be assumed that during the formation of the particular course illustrated the sliders in the 1, 3, d and 5 positions are located inward so as to engage butts 90, while those in positions 2 and 6 are in outer position so as to miss the butts. In such case, if the various sliders are provided with the array of butts illustrated, it will be evident that the knitting butts of the slid ers will take the position illustrated at B, C and C, with the result that only the needles corresponding to B will be raised in position to be wrapped, while those corresponding to C and C will be depressed below the wrapping position. Attention may be called to the fact that the sliders in the 5 and 6 positions may be used to control the actions in entire panels. are in the panel D, for example, contain butts in the 5 position, and by reason of the fact that the slider in the 5 position is in action, all of the needles corresponding to this panel D would have been depressed so as not to take yarn despite any swing of the wrap fingers corresponding to that panel.

It will thus be evident that the slides ltd effect the selective control of the lower sliders permite to be wrapped those which do not have their butts engaged by the slides, and that by the proper position of butts entire panels of needles may be prevented from being wrapped. The particular yarns used in the wrapping are controlled -by the action of the upper trick wheel and its connections to the wrap fingers.

Selective operation of the cams 262 and 2% is necessary and for this purpose there is used the mechanism illustrated in Figure 13. These cams are mounted on plungers normally spring urged outwardly, and which are moved inwardly by engagement by adjustable screws 265 and 268 car- 'ried by a lever 27d, pivoted at 212 and provided with an arm 27 engageable by a. cam following lever 27% having an end 2% acted upon by cams add on the main cam drum. The cams 262 and 25d are desirably in operation only when wrapping is taking place.

The sequence of events occurring in the feeding of a wrap or embroidery yarn to the needles is illustrated in the distorted perspective views in Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20. The selection of the needles is, as has'been described in connection with Figure 16, i. e., wrapping is to occur on the third and fifth needles or the seven needle panel of frame needles. Figure 1'? shows these needles as they approach and pass slides I20 to efiect their selective difierentiation. The wrap finger 48 in Figure 17 is still inside the verge, and the yarn extends therefrom to the last lop in which All of the slidit was knit in the preceding course. Figure 18 illustrates the position of the parts just after the wrap finger has been swung outwardly to cause its yarn to engage the depression in the abutment finger 2"]. The abutment finger will have restrained the yarn so that it is now partially wrapped about the first of the two needles B to knit it. Figure 19 shows a further development, this view embodying a line of vision somewhat to the right of Figure 18, i. e., the position of the abutment actually remains stationary between Figures 18 and 19. The wrap yarn is now fully engaged by the first of the needles and extends within the hook thereof and is about to be engaged by the second: At this time, it will be noted that the first rib needle following the frame panel is approaching the position of the abutment am so that the wrapping must be completed and the yarn withdrawn from the abutment. To insure proper Wrapping of the last needle of the panel which is to be wrapped, and to avoid a premature slipping of the yarn off the abutment, the

, abutment is now given a slight inward movement by the action of the cam 230, thus insuring engagement of the yarn with the last needle to be wrapped. The abutment is then immediately withdrawn to its normal position by the release of pin-228 by cam 230 and the wrap finger is also withdrawn with the result that the wrap yarn slips off the abutment, this action being aided by reason of the curvedpath of the wrap finger.

Thus the wrapping is completed before any interference with the wrap yarn can occur occasioned by the approaching rib needles.

If two or more fingers are located so as to wrap the same panel of needles, having their ends turned to 'approximately the same radial plane, selection of these fingers makes it possible to produce designs embodying more than one color or type of wrap yarn. It will. be evident that the yarns passing through the loops to the idle fingers will not be engaged by the abutment, and consequently there will be no interference between the wrappings by the several yarns.

In a machine or this type, it is quite difficult to secure wrapping of the initial and final needles of the panel. With the use of the abutment operated as described, substantial numbers of needles may be wrapped in such a panel. The timing of the operations must, of course, be closely adjusted. I

It will be evident that various rib arrangements may be wrapped. The ribs formed by the needles in the upper cylinder may be one or more wales in width. Those in the lower cylinder are, of course, preferably fairly wide to secure desirable designs.

By theuse of the controlling device illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, it is. unnecessary to have wasteful movements of the trick wheels occur. By the action of the lugs I12 on the chain I13, which preferably advances one-half link at the formation of every course, the guard I30 may be moved into position to cause interruptions in the advances of the trick wheels. Thus, for example, a particular wrapping arrangement may be maintained through a considerable series of courses to produce a' panel of uniform width or design. The cams I68 operate independently to produce inter-' ruptions, for example, through the formation of a heel if patterning is to be continued in the instep following completion of the heel. The timing up positionoi the guard I34 is also controlled by one of the cams I68 having a lesser height.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters,

Patent is:

1. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper lower cylinders arranged to rotate in unison, needles adaptv ed to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in panels in the upper and lower cylinders, respectively, to produce a broad ribbed fabric, sliders in the upper cylinder 1 arranged to operate needles therein, means for controlling movements of needles in both cylinders to form stitches, means for projecting a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders and across v the needle circle between panels of rib needles in closely adjacent each other so the upper cylinder to present said yarn to at least one needle of aplain panel in the lower cylinder, and means for raising said sliders at the wrapping zone to avoid engagement of the wrap yarn therewith.

2. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders arranged to rotate in unison, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in panels in theupper and lower cylinders, respectively, to produce a broad ribbed fabric, means for controlling movements of needles in both cylinders to form stitches, means for projecting a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders and across the needle circle between panels of rib needles in the upper cylinder to present said yarn to at least two needles of a plain panel in the lower cy1inder, and means for selectively locating needles in said plain panel to take said wrap yarns.

3. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles adapted toslide in said cylinder, means for controlling movements of needles to form stitches, means for projecting a wrapping of said last needle.

4. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles adapted to slide in said cylinder, means for controlling movements of needles to form stitches, means for presenting a wrap yarn to said needles, and means for seleetively locating said needles to take said wrap yarn, said wrap yarn presenting means comprising a carrier having axially extending slots therein, and a plurality of wrap yarn carrying fingers located in said slots in spaced relationship but having their wrap yarn carrying ends located as to move in substantially the same yarn presenting path.

a. A circular knitting machine of the super,- posed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders, double ended needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for selecting needles in It will be evident that adjacent wide ribs said lower cylinder, wrap thread feeding means movably mounted within said upper cylinder, means for moving said wrap thread feeding means across the lower needle circle, and means for cooperating with said wrap thread feeding means when so moved to cause a wrap thread to be presented to at least two selected needles in said lower cylinder during thesame course of knitting.

6. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxialcylinders,

double ended needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for selecting needles in one of said cylinders, wrap thread feeding means, means for moving said wrap thread feeding means v across the needle circle, and means for cooperating with said wrap thread feeding means when so moved to cause a wrap thread to be presented to at least two selected needles during the same course of knitting.

"I. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for arranging adjacent groups of needles in the cylinders for the production of broad ribbed iabric, wrap thread feeding means, means for moving said wrap thread feeding means across the needle circle, and means for cooperating with said wrap thread'feeding means when so moved to cause a wrap thread to be presented to at least two selected needles during the same course of knitting.

8. A'circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for transferring needles between the cylinders, wrap thread feeding means, means for moving said wrap thread feeding means across the needle circle, and means for cooperating with said wrap thread feeding means when so moved to cause a wrap thread to be presented to at least two needles during the same course of knitting.

9. A circular knittingmachine oi the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle 01' operation oi the machine in both cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops, and means for eflfecting movement or a wrap yarn outwardly, between the cylinders, across the needle circle, circumierentially through an angle substantially exceeding that between adjacent needles, and between needles in one cylinder to present the yarn to at least one needle in the other cylinder.

10. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in both cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops, means for effecting movement of a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders, across the needle circle, and between needles in one cylinder to present the yarn to one or more needles in the other cylinder, and means for selectively locating needles in the last mentioned cylinder to take said wrap yarn.

11. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation or themachine in both cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops, means for effecting movementof a wrap yarn 10 cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops,

means for efiecting movement or a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders and across the needle circle between needles in one cylinder, and means for retarding said projected yarn from 5 movement with the cylinders to effect its engagement by at least one needle in the other cylinder, said retarding means comprising a member movable outwardly to an inoperative position when wrapping is not occurring.

13. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in both cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops, means for effecting movement or a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders and across the needle circle between needles in one cylinder, and means for retarding said projected yarn from movement with the cylinders to efiect its engage ment by at least one needle in the other cylinder, said means for efiecting outward movement of a wrap yarn rotating with the cylinders and closely trailing a panel i needles in the first 5 mentioned cylinder.

14. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in-said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in both cylinders to produce reversely concatenated loops, means for efi'ecting movement of a wrap yarn outwardly between the cylinders and across the needle circle between needles in one cylinder, and

means for retarding said projected yarn from movement with the cylinders to effect its engagement by at least one needle in the other cylinder and for'releasing said projected yarn for movement with the cylinders before it is reached by any needle in the first mentioned cylinder, said means for effecting outward movement of a wrap yarn rotating with the cylinders and closely trailing a panel of needles in the first mentioned cylinder.

15. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, a plurality of means, each for presenting a wrap yarn to a plurality of needles in a single course of knitting, means for selectively causing the last "named means to present their yarns to needles,

and means for selectively locating needles in position to take said wrap yarns.

16. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders,

needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, a pinrality of wrap fingers carrying wrap yarns and mounted to project their wrap yarns in substantially the same radial path with respect to said cylinders, and means for selectively causing each rality of needles. 1

17. A circular knitting machine oi the super-- posed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders,

outwardly between the cylinders and across the needles adapted to slide in saidcylinders. means wrapped, and means for effecting wrapping of a for presenting a wrap yarn to at least one needle in one of the cylinders, sliders in the other cylinder arranged to operate needles therein, and means for moving sliders at the wrapping zone to avoid engagement of the wrap yarn therewith.

18'. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders,

needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for presenting a wrap yarn to at least one needle in one of the cylinders, elements carried by the other cylinder, and cam means for moving said elements at the wrapping zone from posi-' tions in which, if maintained, they might engage 7 in the upper cylinder in its active position or above said cylinder where it may be conveniently threaded or replaced.

20. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders,

' needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for presenting a wrap yarn to at least one needle in one of the cylinders, sliders in the other cylinder arranged to operate needles therein, means for moving sliders to effect transfer of needles between the cylinders, and means for moving sliders at the wrapping zone to avoidengagement of the wrap yarn therewith.

21. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, a needle cylinder, a second needle cylinder axially opposed to the first mentioned cylinder, double ended needles in said cylinders, a carrier arranged concentrically with respect to said cylinders, independent thread guides in said carrier each adapted to supply a design thread and to serve a group of at least two of the nee- ;dles, s'aid guides extending in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and being in the form of blade-like elements each provided with a thread guiding portion which extends at an angle to the blade, means for moving said guides radially with respect to. the needle circle suchwise as to carry their threads across said clrdo not.

22. A circular knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial rotary cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, a plurality of means, each for presenting a wrap yarn to a plurality of needles in a single .course last named means to present their yarns to needies, and means for selectively locating needles in position to take said wrap yarns.

23. A circular knittingmachine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles mounted in said cylinders, means for transferringneedles from one cylinder to the other during a knitting operation, means for causing transferred needles to draw yarn to form plurality of selected needles by a wrap yarn in a single course, said means for selecting needles and for effecting wrapping being located between the transferring means and the means for causing needles to draw yarn.

24. A circular knitting machine comprising, in

combination, a needle cylinder, a second needle cylinder axially opposed to the first mentioned cylinder, double-ended needles in said cylinders, a carrier arranged concentrically with respect to said cylinders, independent thread guides in said carrier each adapted to supply a design thread and to serve a group of at least two of the needles, said guides extending in an axial direction with respect to the needle cylinders and each being provided with a thread guiding portion which extends at an angle to the main portion thereof, means formoving said guides radially with respect to the needle circle suchwiseas to carry their threads across said circle, means constructed and arranged to lap each of said design threads about at least two needles, cam means for effecting lengthwise movement of the needles, and means for moving said needles selectively so that in any of the aforesaid groups of needles, any one of the group can be caused to knit. the design thread supplied by the appropriate guide while others of said group do not.

25. A circular knitting machine ofthe superposed cylinder type comprising upper and lower cylinders arranged] to rotate in unison, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, said needles being arranged during at least a part of the cycle of operation of the machine in multiple needle panels in the lower cylinder flanked by needles in the upper cylinder to produce a ribbed fabric, means for controlling movements of needles in both cylinders to form stitches, and means including a 40 radially movable wrap yarn guide, constructed for presenting a wrap yarn to at least one needie in one of the cylinders, elements carried by the other cylinder, and means for moving said elements at the wrapping zone from positions in which, it maintained, they might interfere with wrapping, to other positions to avoid interference with wrapping.

27. A circular, knitting machine of the superposed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders,

double ended needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means forselecting needles in one of said cylinders, main and auxiliary knitting stations, wrap thread feeding means, means for moving said wrap thread feeding means across the needle circle, and means for cooperating with said wrap thread feeding means when so moved to of knitting, means for selectively causing the last' cause a wrap thread to be presented to at least stitches, means for selecting nee to e 76 for cooperating with said wrap thread feeding means when so moved to caujse a wrap thread to be presented to at least two needle d -m the same course of knitting.

29. A circular knitting machine of the super posed cylinder type comprising coaxial cylinders, needles adapted to slide in said cylinders, means for transferring needles between the cylinders,

wrap thread feeding means including a wrap finger, means for positively moving said wrap finger both outwardly to carry the wrap thread across the needle circle and inwardly to return the wrap thread to an inactive position, and

means for cooperating with said wrap thread 

